My home nurse draws blood from my picc line.Someone told me this is not the best idea to be doing,,anyone have any knowledge of this or experiences? Hate to have an infection end my last hope.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
I think the doctor's orders would specify. Apparently, if a particular method of clearing the line and with a certain size of syringe, etc. this is done by some nurses.
While not specific to patients with tick-borne infections, here's a nursing site bulletin board that discusses that:
There 53 replies to this thread, spanning several years, and links to 4 similar threads at the bottom of page.
-
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
When I had my PICC line I was instructed not to have blood drawn from it.
My home health nurse agreed. I know other were told that also.
I never questioned it. I just figured better safe than sorry and had my labs drawn from other arm.
Good luck, kit
Posted by kbholley (Member # 12938) on :
I had my picc line put in Feb. 29th, and I was told by the doctor that put it in, to not have blood drawn from it, because it is a single port not a double.
Something about the IV abx and line flushing can interfer and/or alter results of blood tests.
I have my blood drawn from my other arm.
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Home health nurse never used the Picc Line. Said it was not recommended.
Posted by ICEiam (Member # 7519) on :
Same as the rest, Home health Nurse said not to allow anyone to draw blood from PICC and LLMD said the same.
ICEY
Posted by ladycakes (Member # 12619) on :
I've had blood drawn from the PICC since I got it in, and haven't had any trouble.
As for messing with the results, the nurse flushes the line before the draw, and then discards the first x amount of blood.
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
Don't do it-I lost two PICC lines because of this!
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Hubby has had blood drawn from his single port PICC line a few times, but the longer the line is in the less likely you can still get a blood return. Someitimes he can get a blood return for a few months and other times it has not worked past a couple of weeks.
Have heard that drawing blood will shorten the life of the line, but don't know if that is true or not.
Bea Seibert
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
My personal experience matches what Bea states. I was able to get blood at first but no longer can. Surgeon said the line gets at an angle and you end up getting some tissue blocking the flow when you pull back but not a problem when something is going in.
Posted by beatlyme (Member # 15262) on :
I wish these health professionals would get on the same page,,if anything happen to this line I'm done,last hope,nothing left to try to get well,hope they get it right